BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – As Nigeria’s Under-17 Women National Football team, the Flamingos, battle their Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPR Korea) counterparts in today’s last Group B game, Head Coach Akeem Busari is upbeat that his girls are determined to ensure the world knows exactly their strength and what they are capable of doing with the round leather on the pitch.
Victory in the match, slated for Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco will grant the Nigerians safe passage into the round of 16 fixtures at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup tournament hosted by Morocco.
With DPR Korea currently topping the Group’s table, having amassed six (6) from their opening two matches, Nigeria needs a positive result. So far, the North Koreans have been ruthless beating Puerto Rico 6-0 and Poland 6-1 in their two group matches.
However, having narrowly lost to Poland 2-1 in the opening game, Nigeria fought back hard in a high-stakes 2-0 win over Puerto Rico on Tuesday with Coach Busari hailing his rising stars’ fighting spirit and also admitting that the encounter was anything but a walk in the park.
No doubt, the Flamingos have faced intense pressure under the North African lights and they had to dig deep, turning tactical discipline and sheer grit into a valuable three points that keeps their World Cup ambitions burning bright.
But looking forward to today’s pairing, Busari said pointed out that the team’s ability to withstand late-match pressure showed maturity well beyond their years and they are ready to give the North Koreans an unforgettable match to remember.
According to him, the Flamingos’ tactical resilience that caused havoc for the Puerto Ricans despite their strategic shifts would again come to play as the team intends to stay composed, and focused while faithfully sticking to their game plan.
Coach Busari believes the girls’ performance so far is definitive statement of Nigerian resilience on the global stage and reflecting on the Puerto Rican match, he told FIFA at the final whistle, “It was a very thorough and strong win. Puerto Rico knew it was a game that would [go a long way] to deciding their fate, so it was a very tough game; they are no pushovers.
“When you are down, you look at each other and ask, ‘how do you come back?’ This is what I was saying to the girls. They are young – you don’t need to criticise them. It’s all about counselling and telling them what they need to do. They were calmer today than the Poland game, so I think we’re getting better as the tournament is getting tougher.”
Tuesday’s outing is in the past now and Coach Busari would depend on his goalkeeper, Jane Ijirigho, who is the tallest player at these finals, to keep the opponents at bay. Indeed, she would need every inch of her 192cm frame to be at alert.
Here, the Head Coach notes: “For Jane, she’s having a fantastic tournament. We want everybody to be like that in our team to help the team’s performance.”
But Coach Buhari cannot ignore the fact that DPR Korea are four-time champions and one of the most successful nations in the tournament’s history. Their impressive records include reaching the World Cup on eight occasions and winning a record of four titles in 2008, 2016, 2024, and 2025. They have also been the Asian Cup champions, a joint-record of five times in 2007, 2015, 2017, 2024, and 2026
The reality is that Nigeria must seek to overcome North Korea in this final Group B fixture to secure qualification for the last 16 and it would not be an easy task going by the dominance shown by the Asian champions in their victories over Puerto Rico and Poland.
Victory for the Nigerian youngsters today would guarantee them a place in the knockout stage, while a draw could also secure a top-two finish regardless of the outcome of the group’s other fixture.
But Nigeria could still face uncertainty with a defeat, depending on the final standings and the competition’s best third-placed teams’ calculations. Bronze medallists at the 2022 edition, the Flamingos will need to maintain the attacking intent and defensive discipline they displayed against Puerto Rico if they are to overcome the Asian side.
This encounter presents Nigeria with an opportunity to secure their place in the last 16 pairing and keep their campaign alive. – With FIFA.com report
